This article was co-authored by Sarah Gehrke, RN. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse in Texas. She received her M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

A sore throat is a horrible feeling, but luckily, it doesn’t have to last! You can get rid of a sore throat quickly with home remedies and certain foods. However, if your sore throat lasts for more than 3 days, see a doctor, because you might have a more serious underlying medical condition.

Steps

Part 1

Using Home Remedies to Relieve a Sore Throat

1

Gargle to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water. Take the liquid into the back of your throat, gargle with your head turned slightly up, and spit the water out. Gargle once every hour or so. You should wash your mouth out after so your mouth doesn't taste too bad.

Optional: Put one teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar in the water and gargle as usual. Do not swallow!

2

Use nonprescription throat lozenges for relief. Many herbal lozenges that you can buy over the counter contain analgesics like lemon or honey.

Some throat lozenges, like Sucrets Maximum Strength or Spec-T, are safe and effective and contain medicine (local anesthetic) that numbs the throat to soothe pain.

Try not to consume analgesic lozenges for more than three days, as the anesthetics could mask a serious bacterial infection such as Streptococcus (strep throat) that needs medical intervention.

3

Use throat sprays for relief. Like lozenges, throat sprays such as Cepacol, help relieve pain by numbing the lining of the throat. Follow instructions on labeling for proper dosage, and consult a doctor or pharmacist for information regarding use with other medications and/or remedies.

4

Soothe your throat pain with a warm compress. You can soothe pain on the inside of your throat with warm tea, lozenges, and throat sprays, but how about attacking the pain from the outside? Wrap a warm compress around the outside of your throat.[1] This could be a warm heating pad, a hot water bottle, or a warm, damp cloth.

5

Make a compress out of chamomile. Make a batch of chamomile tea (or soak 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers in one to two cups boiling water and let steep). Once the tea is warm enough to touch, soak a clean towel in the tea, wring it out, and apply to neck area. Leave it there for 30-45 minutes and repeat several times a day, if you need to. Alternatively, you can buy chamomile flowers and put it in a teapot and let it sit for five minutes in hot water. [2]

6

Make a plaster with sea salt and water. Mix 2 cups sea salt with 5 to 6 tablespoons lukewarm water to create a damp, but not wet, mixture. Put the salt in the center of a clean dishtowel. Roll the towel along its longer side and wrap the towel around your neck. Cover the plaster with another dry towel. Leave on for as long as you wish.[1]

7

Use humidifiers or steam treatments for relief. Warm or cool mist moving through a humidifier can help soothe your throat, although take care not to make your room uncomfortably cold or damp.

Use a steam treatment with warm water and a dishtowel. Bring 2-3 cups of water to a soft boil and remove from heat. (Optional: steep chamomile, ginger, or lemon tea in the water.) Lest rest for about 5 minutes. Put your hand over the steam coming off the water to test if it is too hot. Pour the water into a large bowl, drape a clean dishtowel over your head, and bring your covered head over the steam issuing from the bowl. Breathe deeply through your mouth and nose for 5-10 minutes. Repeat as necessary.[1]

8

Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For pain relief, it's okay to take acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Avoid giving children under the age of 20 any aspirin. The combination has been linked to a serious condition called Reye syndrome. [3] Follow dosage instruction on the label exactly.

Part 2

Relieving Your Sore Throat with General Health Practices

1

Get plenty of rest.[1] Try to sleep during the day, if possible and maintain your regular sleeping schedule for the night. Shoot to sleep more than your usual daily allotment, about 11-13 hours while symptoms last.

2

Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. It's no secret that our hands are vectors for bacteria: We touch our face and other objects, increasing the likelihood of spreading bacteria. Wash your hands frequently if you have a sore throat or cold in order to prevent as much bacterial transmission.

3

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.[1] Water may help thin secretions in the throat, and warmer fluids help soothe irritation in the throat. Hydrating your body will help it fight off infections and clear the sore throat quickly.

Shoot for three liters (13 cups) of water a day for men, and 2.2 liters (9 cups) of water a day for women.[4]

Mix a hot drink of Manuka honey, lemon, and warm water. If you can’t find Manuka honey, go with regular.[6]

Drinking electrolyte-rich sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will help your body replenish the salts, sugars, and other necessary minerals it needs to fight the sore throat.[7]

4

Take showers every morning and every night. Take frequent, steamy showers. Showering will help clean your body, offer a refreshing diversion, and allow the steam a chance to soothe your throat.

5

Take vitamin C. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy.[8] The scientific evidence about whether vitamin C specifically helps sore throats is controversial, but it certainly won't hurt your sore throat.[9] You might as well take it.

Make garlic tea. This can work well, as garlic is a natural antibiotic.[11]

Cut some fresh garlic into small pieces (medium slices).

Put the garlic pieces into a mug/teacup. Fill with water.

Put the cup inside of the microwave. Boil for two minutes.

Remove the cup. While still hot, take out the pieces of garlic.

Add your favorite tea bag (preferably a flavored one to kill the smell of garlic), such as vanilla flavor.

Add some honey or other sweetener (enough to make drinking tasty).

Drink (it will taste really good thanks to the tea bag and sweetener). You can have as many cups as you like.

Part 3

Avoiding Certain Foods While Symptoms Persist

1

Avoid dairy foods, if they make you feel worse. Studies have proven that there’s no real connection between how much dairy you consume and the amount of mucus you have. However, some people feel more stuffy after eating dairy when they have a sore throat or cold. Try a dairy product, such as a cup of yogurt, some cheese, or a glass of milk. If you feel fine afterwards, you can continue eating dairy. If your throat hurts more or you feel more stuffy, consider eating less of it while you’re still sick..[12]

2

Avoid overly sugary foods, such as cupcakes or cake. Eating sugary, processed food with low nutritional value won’t give you the vitamins and minerals you need to feel better. Sugary foods that are dry, like cake and cupcakes, are even worse, as they’ll be scratchy on your throat and hard to swallow.[13]

Avoid cold foods and drinks. Don't let the cooling sensation of drinks and ice cream fool you: You want to keep your body's core temperature up. Warm drinks, like tea, are the best to drink. If you just want water, try to drink it hot or at least lukewarm.[14]

4

Try not to eat citrus fruits. Fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and tomatoes can hurt your throat even more. Instead, opt for grape or apple juice, which are fruity and refreshing but not acidic.[15]

Part 4

Seeking Medical Attention

1

See a doctor if your sore throat lasts for more than three days. It's better to be safe than sorry. Your doctor can look at your throat, discuss your symptoms, and perform tests that hopefully will put you back on the path to a quick recovery.

2

Check for signs of strep throat. Your sore throat is probably just that — sore. But there's a chance what you thought was sore throat is, in fact, strep throat or another potentially hazardous infection. Be on the lookout for these signs that you have strep throat:

Bright red throat or dark red spots on the roof of the mouth at the back near the throat.

Scarlet blotches in the neck area or other parts of the body.

3

Check for signs of mononucleosis, or mono. Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus[16] and is usually associated with teens and young adults, as most adults have immunity to the virus. Symptoms of mono include:

Can I drink hot chocolate while I have a sore throat or will it make it worse?

Community Answer

Dairy products are usually not the best to consume with a sore throat as they coat your throat and do not allow any medicine to penetrate your throat. If you can have non-dairy milk or no milk, then hot chocolate is okay. The best would be green tea with honey and lemon. It doesn't need to be too hot, just enough that you can handle. Try limiting your talking, singing etc. Also watch what you eat as that can effect your throat also.

wikiHow Video: How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat Quickly

To quickly get rid of a sore throat, mix 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and 8 ounces of warm water and gargle. Avoid dairy, sugar, and cold water in order to avoid making your sore throat worse. Temporarily soothe throat pain with lozenges like Sucrets Maximum Strength or Spec-T, throat sprays like Cepacol, or over-the-counter ibuprofen. For more advice from our Medical reviewer, including how to recognize more severe medical symptoms, scroll down!

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Tips

Try not to talk as much. It will help you rest your throat. Talking can add extra stress to your voice as well.

Elevate your head while sleeping and put some Vaporub on your chest, under your nose, and a bit on your forehead. Vaporub may help you breathe easier, increasing the flow of oxygen.

Take your temperature every 24 hours while having a sore throat. If at any time it reaches over 101 degrees, go to a doctor as this could be signs of viral or bacterial infection such as mono.

Boil some lavender in water. Then, add some honey to it. It smells really nice and it may soothe your throat.

Take ibuprofen or any other equivalent for temporary relief. Do not give children these medications, particularly aspirin, without the prior consent of a doctor and/or medical professional. Aspirin use by children has been linked to Reye’s syndrome.[17]

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Caroline F.

Dec 24, 2018

"My throat has hurt for a week now, and this article has given me some great ideas on how to soothe it!"

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Amber A.

Dec 14, 2018

"This article was great! I had a sore throat, and this totally helped me."

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Liz Wamaitha

May 8, 2018

"I tried apple cider vinegar and sea salt gargle. It released the mucus in my throat, and the discomfort was gone in few minutes. I then made chamomile tea with freshly-crushed garlic. Put a hot water bottle on my throat. In few minutes, all pain was gone."..." more

AP

Amelia Purba

Apr 11, 2017

"This article really helped. :) I looked up "how to get rid of sore throat" and this article came up.:) I made warm water and honey (as the article said), but didn't put lemon in because I didn't have some. After I finished drinking, I felt better instantly!"..." more

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Elizabeth Selloria

May 18, 2016

"Really helped, mostly because it describes in detail what to do with the pain of a sore throat. People should understand that it's not actually possible to cure a sore throat with the snap of a finger, but getting rid of the pain helps."..." more

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Roger Rush

Jan 31, 2018

"I was up at 3 am my throat was killing me! Every time I would swallow the pain was unbearable then I got on my phone and found this article. It saved my life. I tried the salt water gargle, now I can go to sleep in peace, thank you!"..." more

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Vanessa Bailey

May 21, 2017

"I wanted to know what I could do to help my sore throat as it's the weekend and my GP isn't open. Not only did I get very good advice about what to do, I also found out what to avoid eating and how long it should last. Thank you!"..." more

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Anonymous

Jan 7, 2018

"This article is right, never drink or eat cold foods if you have a sore throat. Some places on the net tell you to take cold liquids or pops. I don't know why they do that. It's not right. Warm foods are best in this situation."..." more

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Fatimah Zahara

Apr 7, 2017

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Gio Powell

Nov 26, 2017

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Ally Brenner

Apr 27, 2016

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Nessa Love

Jun 16, 2017

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Bob

Jun 9, 2017

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Rosa D.

May 27, 2017

"Thanks for the suggestion. It helped me see what I could try to feel better, because when you're in pain you're not thinking about anything except that you're throat hurts really bad!"..." more

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Dec 5, 2017

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Nov 12, 2017

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Feb 21, 2017

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Amelia Johnson

Feb 18, 2017

"It did help me with stuff that I didn't know, like the orange or lemon juice, the tea, the ginger, etc. It helped me very much! Thanks, wikiHow!"..." more

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Emily Wilson

Jun 29, 2017

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Rico Middlebrook

May 1, 2017

"My wife has been waking up with a sore throat, so I made her some green tea with honey. I also gave her a vitamin C pill. This seems to help. "..." more

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H. D.

Jan 13, 2018

"The mere fact that the article does share to utilize natural remedies is a major plus for me and the aforementioned remedies really do work."..." more

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Tab

Oct 24, 2017

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Jun 21, 2016

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Kavonte Brown

Jun 7, 2017

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Jack Lauren

Dec 21, 2016

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Dec 9, 2016

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Anna Slaw

Jul 20, 2017

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David McFarlane

May 22, 2018

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Madi Becham

Aug 25, 2017

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